113: Login

Inside the Breath of Life Demi-plane, time flowed faster in secret. Linn had sunk into the deepest layer of meditation, his aura surging like an undercurrent beneath a calm sea, gathering a majestic power that was about to soar into the sky. Destiny stood guard nearby, the space warping slightly to isolate all fluctuations within.

Meanwhile, on the Endless Sea of the real world, three large warships flying the blue star flag were cutting through the waves, sailing toward the faintly emerging dark green coastline to the east. Angus stood at the bow of the leading warship, the sea breeze hitting his face with saltiness and a hint of the unfamiliar, savage scent of the primeval forest. His face was as calm as iron, but his knuckles were slightly white as he pressed his hand on the sword hilt, revealing his inner caution.

After more than ten days of sailing, guided by sea charts and aerial Griffon Knights, the designated landing area finally appeared before them. This was a relatively gentle curved bay, with reefs and headlands on both sides forming a natural barrier. The water in the bay was deep, suitable for anchoring. On the shore was a primeval jungle so dense it was almost eerie, with tall trees blotting out the sun and vines hanging down like giant pythons.

"This is the place," Angus said in a deep voice. "Lower the boats. The scout team will land first to investigate and confirm the situation on the beachhead and the near-shore jungle. The first and second battalions of the Divine Arrow Army, prepare for battle and follow up at any time."

The well-trained soldiers acted quickly. Half an hour later, the scouts sent back a safety signal. Angus no longer hesitated and waved his hand: "Land!"

Landing craft full of soldiers rushed toward the beach. For the first time, steel boot soles stepped onto this unfamiliar land, crushing damp shells and startling some primitive existences in the jungle.

Almost as soon as the vanguard had established a simple perimeter, a series of heavy grunts and the sound of branches being roughly pushed aside came from the dense forest to the side. Over a dozen dark-skinned, stout humanoid creatures with two ferocious tusks protruding from the corners of their mouths emerged. They held crude wooden clubs and stone axes, their small eyes filled with greed and ferocity, clearly treating these 'two-legged prey' as food delivered to their door.

"Pig-Headed People..." Angus's eyes turned cold. Without any intention of negotiating or observing, he directly spat out a cold command: "Shoot them."

The divine archers, who had already drawn their bows and notched their arrows, reacted extremely fast. Almost the moment the command was given, a precise and deadly rain of arrows enveloped the dozen or so Pig-Headed People. Thud, thud, thud! The dull sound of sharp arrows piercing flesh rang out in succession, followed by short and shrill screams. These low-rank Pig-Headed People didn't even manage to charge close before they all fell dead on the beach and the edge of the jungle, their foul blood staining the gravel red.

"First and second battalions, form battle formation and advance, clearing all visible threats within one li of the coastline. The third battalion, consolidate the landing point and establish a temporary camp," Angus's voice was calmly relayed. "Remember, we are here to take root. Every inch of land must be cleared. In the jungle, we are the hunters."

Two thousand Divine Arrow Army soldiers immediately transformed into countless well-coordinated groups, merging into the dark jungle like mercury spreading over the ground. They moved swiftly and quietly, their years of rigorous training showing its power at this moment. For these warriors with extraordinary archery and keen perception, the complex terrain was not an obstacle but the best hunting ground. Like the most experienced jungle hunters, they used trees, vines, and terrain elevation differences to silently approach, lock on, and kill.

Scattered Pig-Headed People encountered along the way, a few sneaky goblin scouts, and even a low-rank Forest Wolf attracted by the smell of blood failed to cause much of a stir before dying under the precise arrows. Angus sat firmly in the center of the army, constantly receiving intelligence sent back from the front and issuing subtle adjustment commands.

After advancing for less than half a day, the scouts ahead reported finding a Pig-Headed People settlement with a population of about five hundred. Relying on crude wooden fences and caves, they seemed not to have fully realized that disaster was imminent.

"Leave none alive," Angus's command was concise. "Make it quick."

The battle was almost a one-sided slaughter. When the Divine Arrow Army launched a surprise attack from all directions, most of the Pig-Headed People were still in a daze. A few brave Pig-Headed People warriors tried to resist, but their clumsy charges appeared laughable in the face of the locust-like rain of arrows and the divine archers' agile close-quarters combat skills. In less than an hour, this small tribe was completely wiped out, and their leader was captured.

Angus stepped into the newly captured camp, his expression unchanged. He looked around; the terrain here was slightly elevated, flanked by stone hills, with only a canyon mouth in front serving as a passage. It was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the distance from the coast was moderate. "Good location. Notify General Karl that they can land. Use this place as a base, expand outward, and build a fortress."

A Griffon Knight who had been circling in the sky received the order and immediately steered his mount toward the sea, flying swiftly toward the following fleet.

Shortly after, the grand fleet sailed into the bay. Karl led three thousand Star Shattering Legion soldiers, carrying a large amount of pre-processed building materials, tools, and the first batch of supplies, and began a large-scale landing. With the safety zone and preliminary camp cleared by the Divine Arrow Army, the landing efficiency was greatly improved.

Karl and Angus quickly met.

Karl excitedly punched Angus's chest: "Impressive, my brother! You've already gained a foothold in such a short time."

Angus smiled faintly: "The Divine Arrow Army may only have 2,000 men, but they are natural experts at jungle warfare. Dealing with these low-level characters is easy for them."

Angus said no more and ordered his men to drag over the High Silver Rank Pig-Headed People leader.

The Boar-headed person's massive body knelt on the ground, kowtowing like a pestle: "Respected human general, spare us! We are willing to hand this place over to you."

Karl stepped forward and gave him a kick: "Cut the nonsense. Tell us quickly, who rules this eastern region and how strong are they? How many combat-ready troops do they have?"

The Boar-headed leader trembled in fear and confessed everything: "My lords, we belong to the Boar-headed Tribe. Our king is Lord Kustu. His strength is at the Intermediate Earth Rank. The tribe has over a hundred thousand people, with more than thirty thousand combat-ready young adults."

"Good heavens! That's quite a lot of people." Karl pulled out his longsword and finished him off with one strike.

Angus spoke after a moment of silence: "Karl, our first task is to build a fortress and a port. We will focus on defense. Once the magic crystal cannons are installed, we will wait for Kustu to take the initiative to attack."

Karl nodded in agreement. "The power of the magic crystal cannons is obvious to all. No matter how many of them come, it will be in vain."

As it grew late, under the orders of the two men, the soldiers began to take turns patrolling and resting, preparing to build the fortress tomorrow.